‘Remove the burqa’: female tradie named as One Nation’s star candidate for NSW election

One Nation has named a surprise candidate for an upcoming election, with an outspoken Muslim tradie to stand for the party.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation yesterday named a Muslim woman as its newest candidate for the upcoming New South Wales election.

Emma Eros, a mother-of-two and businesswoman was recruited by state leader Mark Latham to run as candidate for the seat of Hornsby. Mr Latham last week announced his state platform of “banning the burqa” in airports, banks and other government buildings.

Ms Eros, who runs a plumbing and construction business in Sydney and was raised in western Sydney by Lebanese parents, holds strong views about the burqa and niqab. She has said she backs Mr Latham’s views that the religious garments need restrictions.

“I am a believer that one needs to show their face,” Ms Eros said.

“Any government building, anything like that, that’s relevant to identification then yeah, bloody hell, remove it.

“People are abusing that freedom of religion that we have in this democratic country,” she told the Daily Mail.

She went on to describe commonly cited religious reasons for wearing the garments as “lame excuses”, “bulls**t”.

“They’ve said to me, ‘I don’t have to do my hair’, Well, you’re completely lazy.

“Some have said, ‘It brings me closer to God.’ Well, I’m sorry, God is everywhere.

“You don’t need to cover your face to make you closer to God. Again, lame excuses.

Emma Eros was yesterday announced as One Nation's candidate for the seat of Hornsby.

The mother-of-two has slammed the reasoning behind traditional religious dress for Islamic women as ‘bulls**t’.

Emma Eros describes herself as a true blue Aussie.

Ms Eros also raised the issue of women wearing face-covering garments while driving.

“That’s up to the police to pull them over, if he wants to see their face then they should respect the police officer and show their face and their licence,” she said.

Former Labor leader Mark Latham announced his intentions to ban the burqa last week.

“It is sexism and in an era of #MeToo, wouldn’t you think all the lefties would be jumping up and down about it trying to get rid of the burqa?” he said.

Ms Eros says she only wears a headscarf when attending a mosque.

She will run for the seat of Hornsby in the hopes of shifting votes away from supporters of Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s Liberal government when voters head to the polls on March 23.

Ms Eros has said she formerly was a supporter of the Liberal government but now believes that “Liberal has become Labor”.

Ms Eros has been outspoken about her beliefs about traditional Islamic dress in the past, and says her views have resulted in her receiving death threats and people telling her to “hang herself”.

Ms Eros was yesterday announced as One Nation's candidate for the seat of Hornsby.

Ms Eros runs a plumbing and construction business.

“I just don’t think it’s necessary to abuse the freedom of religion when it’s not a religious obligation to cover your face,” she said.

Ms Eros also said Islamic women who make the pilgrimage to attend Hajj in Mecca were required to show their face.

“If the birthplace of Islam is not demanding a full face covering by wearing the burqa then why should it be expected or demanded to be worn here?”

Ms Eros clarified she doesn’t mind if Islamic women wear burqas or similar items in private, but backs the ban in public buildings.

“I don’t care if they wear it in their home. I don’t care if they’re wearing it going to their family’s house, driving somewhere,” Ms Eros said.